In respect of a Lok Sabha question as to whether the Government proposes to substantially increase the number of empanelled hospitals under the Central GovernmentHealth Scheme (CGHS) to ensure effective coverage of the scheme, the Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri.Ghulam Nabi Azad in a written reply in Lok Sabha stated as follows

Government empanels private hospitals under CGHS periodically and last such empanelment under e-tender and continuous empanelment scheme was completed in 2011. 486 Private hospitals and 134 Diagnostic centres are empanelled under CGHS as on date.

Government appointed UTI-ITSL as Bill Clearing Agency for speedy settlement of the bills of empanelled private hospitals and diagnostic centres. Under this arrangement, hospitals and diagnostic centres are required to submit their bills electronically to UTI – ITSL after discharge of the patient, followed by submission of the bills in physical format. UTI– ITSL makes payments to the hospitals and diagnostic centres as per the approved CGHS package rates within ten days of receipt of the physical bills.

To enable UTI – ITSL to make payments to hospital, an advance of Rs.70 crore has been placed at the disposal of UTI-ITSL as a Rolling Fund by CGHS. After UTI-ITSL makes payments to the hospitals, the bills are submitted to CGHS periodically for scrutiny and final settlement. The final settlement amount is then recouped to UTI-ITSL.